Note from Free Barrett Brown: US journalist Barrett Brown is to be sentenced on December 16th for his part in researching and exposing the inner workings of some of the leading but very secretive private security and intelligence firms that few American know about and if they did would be shocked at what they would find. Brown’s supporters still hope that the judge in his trial will order his release as an act of clemency given he has already served two years in prison. That the prosecution of Brown is political has never been in doubt. Fortunately much of his work is still available for anyone to see. Below, is a reprise of that work: summarised and adapted from the excellent ProjectPM website, it provides a glimpse into five US private intelligence/security companies.
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In advance of sentencing, government blocks the public’s right to know
Ahead of the sentencing of Barrett Brown, which is due to happen next Tuesday, December 16th, the DOJ is opposing the public’s right to know about a case with extraordinary implications for the public and for the practice of journalists.
On November 19th, Brown’s defense attorneys filed their final sentencing memorandum, which is a thorough legal argument in favor of time served for the defendant, including many letters submitted by friends, family and supporters on his behalf. Because the government’s pleadings arguing for a 8 ½ year sentence were made under seal, the defense’s filing in response was also sealed, like much of the case. Arbitrary and inexplicable secrecy, including protective orders and gag orders have abounded in USA v. Barrett Lancaster Brown from the very start.
On Thursday, the defense filed a motion to unseal the sentencing memorandum and attendant exhibits in support of the public’s right of access. Incredibly, the government is opposing the release of the sentencing memo.
It seems clear that the government doesn’t want journalists to attend the upcoming hearing with an understanding of what issues are at stake, and they don’t want further attention to a case that has already proven to be an embarrassment.
Brown has spent 2 years and 3 months in jail, and now scrutiny of his final hearing and access to the arguments being made by each side is being blocked.
This morning, the court ordered that the government respond to the motion by the end of today. In the afternoon, the US attorneys office requested and received an extension until Monday.
Free Barrett Brown calls upon the judge to rule in favor of the public’s right to know, and we ask the press not only to follow Brown’s sentencing, but to inquire of these government prosecutors about what compels them to prevent observers from learning what’s at stake.
After several delays, Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on 12/16 at the federal courthouse at 1100 Commerce St. in Dallas, TX at 9AM CST.
